Dishwashing machine



Aug.- l0, 1948. H. G. DAvls DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HA/P G HA W5.

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Aug. 10, 1948'. H. G. DAvls DISHW'ASHING MACHINEt 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1942 m m w HARO/.0 6 /l ws. BY

Aug. 10, 1948;y i

Filed Jan. 5, 1942 DISHWASHING MACHINE H. G. DAvls 2,446,693

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 15g Il INVENTOR HAROLD 6T UAV/.5.

i i ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISHWASHING MACHINE Harold G. Davis, Denver, Colo.

Application January 5, 1942, Serial No.' 425,679

6 claims. (Cl. 134-117) l This invention relates to a dish washing machine and has for its principal object the provision of a convenient. portable device which when not in use will serve as a tableand which when in use will automatically elevate itself above the level of a kitchen sink so that it may discharge and drain directly into the sink without the use of pumps, etc.

Other objects of the invention are to provide automatic means for stopping the raising and lowering movements of the machine at adjustably pre-set points; to combine the electrical switch' ing operations with the valve operating mechanism so that the various elements will operate in their proper combinations when controlled from a single operating handle; and to provide a drain chute for draining the machine into the sink which will fold automatically as the machine is lowered.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eillciency. These will become more apparent from the following descriptionl In the following detailed description of the invention reference is .had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l illustrates the improved dish washing machine as it would appear in the lowered or folded position;

Fig. 2 is a similar View illustrating the machine in the 'raised or extended position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partially in section. illustrating the machine in the raised or operating position;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the improved washer;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross section through the housing of the improved washer, taken on the line 5 5. Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 ls a horizontal section, taken on the line 6 6. Fig 4;

Fig. 7 is a similar section, taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through one extremity of the housing looking in the direction of the arrows 8 8, Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a detail. vertical, enlarged section through the jack screw of the device;

Fig. l0 is an enlarged. fragmentary, detail view of the valve and switch operating mechanism;

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary, vertical section, taken on theline l |-II,Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section, taken on the line I2-I2. Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a detail section illustrating the drain spout of the machine, taken on the line i3-I3, Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a detail face view of the drain valve employed in the improved washer; and

Fig. 15 is a cross section through the drain valve, taken on the line |5,l 5, Fig. 14.

The improved `dish washing machine employs an outer housing i5 within which a dish washing tub I6, provided with a depending skirt I1, is vertically movable. The housing l5 is provided with suitable caster wheels I8, which makes it readily portable, and with hinged table leaves I9 which may beraised fromeal depending position, as shown in Fig. 2, to horizontal alignment with a table top 96 with which theV machine is provided, as shown in Fig. 1.' When raised, the leaves I9 are supported by means of suitable sliding braces 20.

The tub i6 is supported upon struts 2i from a rectangular tub frame 22. A roller bracket 23 projects diagonally outward from each corner of the top and bottom of the tub frame 22. These brackets are secured in place by means of clamp bolts 24 which pass through slotted openings 25 in the brackets. This arrangement allows the brackets to be moved outwardly and inwardly around the frame 22 as well as to be turned angularly for adjustment purposes. Each bracket carries a sheave type roller 26 which rides against a vertical guide tube 21.

The tubes 21 are fixedly supported within each corner of the outer housing I5. The adjustable brackets eliminate all machine work since they allow the rollers to be brought tightly against the guide tubes regardless of any irregularities in placement of the latter. They also admit of take-up" in case of wear. Tilting of the tub is prevented since both the top and bottom of the tube frame 22 carry the rollers 26 so that the tub is always maintained in accurate horizontal position.

The tub frame 22 is raised and lowered by means of a long nut 28 threaded on a telescoping jack screw consisting of an outer tube 29, ,which is threaded on its interior and exterior, and a. fixed threaded shaftf30 mounted on a cross member in the housing i5. The tube 28 is threaded on the shaft 30 and the nut 28 is threaded on the tube 29. Terminal stops 3| are formed on the tube 28 to prevent the nut from leaving the tube.

The nut 28 carries a friction wheel 32 which is driven from an electric motor 33. The motor is iixedly secured to the tub frame 22 and carries a guide bearing 34 which surrounds and perpendicularly and rotatably supports the long nut 28.

The power transmission between the motor and the frictional wheel 32 is more fully described in applicants Patent No. 2,200,574. Briefly, it comprises a friction drive pulley 35 mounted on the motor shaft in spaced relation to the friction wheel 32. A rotatable yoke 36, pivoted above the motor shaft, carries a forward idler pulley 31 at one side and two rearward idler pulleys 38 at the other side. If the yoke is rotated in one direction, it presses the forward pulley 31 between the drive pulley 35 and the wheel 32 to rotate the latter in one direction. If the yoke is shifted in the other direction, it presses both reversing idler pulleys 38 between the drive pulley 35 and the wheel 32 to rotate the latter in the opposite direction. Therefore, the tub can be raised or lowered in the outer housing by shifting the yoke 36 to the left or right.

The yoke is shifted through the medium of a shifting lever 39 which is pivoted intermediate its extremities o`n the frame 22. One extremity of the shifting lever receives a connecting rod 40 carrying two compression springs 11, one spring being positioned on each side of an arm on the yoke 36. Therefore. when the shifting lever 39 is moved in one direction, it compresses one of these springs against the arm for forward movement and when moved in the other direction, it

compresses the other spring against the arm for rearward movement. The other extremity of the shifting lever 39 carries a roller 42.

The movement of the lever 39 is accomplished by means of a vertical, laterally movable, shifting channel 4| into which the roller 42 projects and in which the roller travels vertically as the tub raises and lowers. Thus, referring to Fig. 8, if the shifting channel 4| is moved to the right, it causes the idler pulleys 38 to engage to move the tub upwardly. If shifted to the left, it causes the pulley 31 to engage -to move the tub downwardly.

When the tub reaches its uppermost position, the roller 42 enters an upper enlargement 43 in the channel 4| to bring the rollers or pulleys 31 and 38 to the neutral position and stop further rising. When the tub reaches its lowermost position, it similarly enters an oppositely extending enlargement 44 to stop downward movement. The enlargements 43 and 44 are adjustably mounted on the channel 4| so that the extreme limits of movement can be pre-set to any desired points.

The shifting channel 4| is xedly mounted on a horizontal guide head 45 which rides on a horizontal guide member 46. The head 45 is moved to the right or left through the medium of a connectng rod 41 and operating crank 48. The operating crank is secured on an operating shaft 49 terminating on the exterior of the housing |5 in an operating handle 50. Thus, by swinging the handle 50 upwardly or downwardly, the tub can be caused to raise or lower in the housing I5.

The shaft of the motor 33 terminates above the drive pulley 35 in any suitable coupling device through which it drives a blower rotor 5|. The blower rotor 5| is mounted in a blower housing 52 below the bottom of the tub I6. The blower intakes through an intake opening 53 above the l motor and discharges through a removable air riser 54 on the exterior of the tub I6. The riser carries the air from the blower to an air intake through the wall of the tub adjacent the top thereof, the opening of which is controlled by means of a mushroom type intake valve 55. The incoming air is heated by means of a heating element 58 positioned in the air riser 54.

The blower rotor shaft passes through a sealed bearing in the bottom of the tub and terminates, within a. depressed portion thereof, in a gyrating impeller 56. 'I'he detail construction of this impeller is described more completely in applicants prior Patent No. 1,934,970. Briefly, the impeller is mounted on a flexible extremity of the motor shaft and this flexible extremity is gyrated by means of a gyrating arm 51 positioned in the path of the water being thrown upwardly and outwardly by the impeller.

The current for operation of the machine is received through a flexible twin conductor cord 59, one lead of which, indicated at 60, leads directly to the motor 33 and to the heating element 59, and the other lead of which, indicated at 6 I', leads to a double throw, double pole toggle switch 62. The switch 62 is normally open but, when moved upwardly, it closes the circuit to both the heating element 58 and the motor 33 and when moved downwardly closes the circuit to the motor 33 only. The switch 62 is operated from a control shaft 63 carrying a control handle 64 and a face cam 65. A connecting rod 66 is secured on a crank pin 61 on the cam 65 and extends to the handle of the switch 62 to operate the latter. Thus, when the control handle 64 is horizontal, the switch 62 is open. Movement of the handle upwardly or downwardly will operate the switch handle upwardly or downwardly.

The tub is drained through a drain sleeve 53 extending through one end and at the lowermost point thereof. A butterfly valve 59, of rubber molded about an inner metallic disc 94, is mounted in the drain sleeve 68 on a horizontal valve shaft 1U. A valve spring 1| constantly tends to rotate the shaft 10 to urge the butterfly valve 69 to the open position.

The valve shaft 10 terminates in a crank 12 having a crank pin 13, against which, a rocking lever 14 engages. The lever 14 is pivoted intermediate its extremities on a bracket 15 and, at its upper extremity, it carries a. cam follower 1B which engages one rising cam face on the face cam 65. Thus, as the control handle 64 is moved downwardly, the follower 16 will be forced outwardly by the cam face of the cam 65 causing the lower extremity of the rocking lever 14 to engage the crank pin 13 so as to rotate the valve shaft 10 to turn the butterfly drain valve 69 to the closed position.

The air intake valve 55 is operated from a rocker arm 18 which in turn is actuated by a lever 19 pivoted on a bracket 80 adjacent the cam 65. The lower extremity of the lever 19 carries a cam follower 8| which also rides against a second rising cam face on the cam 65. Thus, when the control handle 64 is raised, the cam engages the follower 8| to force the lower extremity of the lever 19 outwardly and the upper extremity inwardly, so as to exert a prying action on the rocker arm 18 to pull the air intake valve 55 from its seat. The valve is constantly urged toward its seat by means of a valve spring 32. The entire switch and cam mechanism is enclosed within, and is accessible by removing, the air riser 54. The latter is secured in place upon suitable threaded studs 83.

Normally, the cam disc strikes the followers 10 and 8| to prevent rotation of the shaft 10. The cam can be forced inwardly against the action of a cam spring |03 to release it for rotation.

The buttery valve 69 is slidably mounted in a clip 85, which is secured on the shaft 1'0, by means of screws 86 which may travel in slotted openings 81 in the clip.

The water discharging from the sleeve 68 is received in a drain spout 88 which is hinged on suitable hinge pins 89 at each side of the drain sleeve 68. The spout seals by gravity, assisted by a pair of tension springs 9|, .against a sealing gasket 90 on the drain sleeve. The springs 9| are passed beneath the sleeve 68 and constantly draw the spout downwardly. The spout is raised by means of a striker arm 92 which strikes the upper edge of the housing I5 as the tub descends into the housing. The bottom of the striker arm is rounded so that it may' slide freely over the edge of and Within the housing I5.

Water is admitted to the tub through a supply hose 93, which may be detachably secured against the end of the tub in suitable hose clips 94. The hose terminates in a nozzle 95 which extends through the wall of the tub to the 'interior thereof thence outwardly into the drain sleeve 68. This particular placement of the nozzle serves to prevent hot water from directly striking the dishes and also serves to direct a stream outwardly through the drain sleeve and spout to cleanse them. The amount of water in the tub is determined by the position of an overow elbow |0I which discharges into the drain sleeve 68 beyond the valve. This elbow also serves as a vent for the expanding air within the tub.

The top 96 serves as a lid for the tub and is hinged on hinge bolts 91 in brackets 98 projecting rearwardly from each side of one end of the tub. The weight of the lid is counter-balanced by means of counter-balance springs 99 which constantly act to urge connecting links |00 upwardly to support the weight of the lid.

It is believed that the use of the device is apparent-from the above description. Briey, the dishes are placed in suitable racks (not shown) in the tub I6, while the device is in its lowennost position where easy access may be had. Powdered soap or other cleansing agent may be placed in the tub. The top 96 is then closed and the device is wheeled to a kitchen sink, such as indicated at |02. It is then connected with a source of electricity which starts the motor 33. The operator then lowers the operating handle 50 causing the nut 28 to rotate and raise, the entire tub to the position of Fig. 2, at which time the shifting channel 4| will release the friction mechanism.

The control handle 64 is now rotated downwardly to close the drain valve, the supply hose 93 is slipped over the hot water faucet and water is introduced into the tub to the pre-set level of the over-ow elbow |0I. The water is then shut off and the motor continues to rotate the impeller to throw the water to wash the dishes.

The control handle 64 is now lifted to the neutral position which stops the motor and opens the drain valve 69 allowing the dirty water to flow into the sink. The handle is again depressed to close the drain and start the motor and clean hot water is introduced for rinsing. 'I'he rinse water is then discharged by moving the handle 8l to the neutral position.

The control handle 64 is now raised to its uppermost position to start both the motor and the heating element 58. This causes warm air to be rapidly circulated through the dishes to dry them. The hose is now disconnected from the faucet and placed in the hose clips 9| on the tub. The operating handle 5l is now lifted to cause the tub to again descend into its housing. After a sutilcient drying period the current is shut oi! and the motor and heating element cease to operate until again desired foruse.

It will be -noted that the control handle 84 is made suiliclently long to prevent it from entering the housing in its horizontal position but to allow it to enter in its raised or lowered positions. Therefore, the circuit to the motor is always closed, when the tub is down. through the switch 92 so that the motor is always ready to start whenever the current is supplied.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein.' it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied. within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A dishwashingmachine comprising: a dishwashing tub for receiving the dishes; an impeller in said tub for throwing water on said dishes; a motor operating said impeller a supporting structure in which said tub is vertically movable; and means for employing the power of said motor when desired for raising said tub suiliciently in said supporting structure to allow lt to drain by gravity into a sink of standard height.

2. In a dishwashing machine of the type having a dish receiving tub. a motor, and means operable by said motor for throwing water against the dishes in said tub, means for elevating said tub comprising: a supporting structure for supporting said tube above a floor; means for elevating said tub in said structure; and a clutch device for transmitting power from said motor to said lastnamed means when desired to operate the latter.

3. In a dishwashing machine of the type having a dish receiving tub; a motor; and means actuated by said motor for throwing water against the dishes in said tub, means for raising and lowering said tub comprising: a supporting structure; a vertically movable frame in said supporting structure supporting said tub; means for raising and lowering said frame in said structure to elevate said tub for gravity drainage purposes; and a reversible clutch device for transmitting power from said motor to said raising and lowering means.

4. In a dishwashing machine of the type having a dish receiving tub; a motor; and means operable by said motor for throwing water against the dishes in said tub, means for elevating said tub comprising: a supporting structure: a vertically movable frame in said supporting structure supporting said tub; vertical guide members in said supporting structure; means on said frame4 engaging said guide members to prevent tilting of` ing: a dishwashing tub supported from said y frame: a blower housing below the bot-tom of said tub; a motor carried by said frame; a vertical shaft driven by said motor extending upwardly through said blower housing into said tub; ae

blower rotor mounted on said shaft within 'said andava blower housing: an impeller mounted on said shaft within said tub: means for conducting the air from said blower housing into the upper part of said tub; elevating means for elevating said frame in said housing: and manually operated means for lconnecting said elevating means with A said vertical shaft to actuate the former.

8. A dishwashing machine comprising: an outer housing; a vertically movable frame in said housing: a dishwashing tub supported from said frame; a blower housing below .the bottom of said tub; a motor carried by said frame; a vertical shaft driven by said motor extending upwardly through said blower housing into said tub; a. blower rotormounted on said shaft within said blower housing; an impeller 'mounted on said shaft within said tub; means for conducting the air from said blower housing into .the upper part of said tub; a vertical jack screw supported from said outer housing; a rotatable nut supported from said frame and being threaded on said jack screw; and manually controlled .transmission means for transmitting power from said vertical shaft to rotate said nut in either desired direction for varying the elevation of said tub.

HAROLD G. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 444,143 Street Jan. 8, 1891 711,293 Cummings et al Oct. 14, 1902 1,000,619 Miller et al Aug. 15, 1911 1,075,476 Hutchins Oct. 14, 1913 1,262,043 Heermans Apr. 9, 1918 1,272,346 Jefferies et al July 9, 1918 1,626,022 Corbett Apr. 26, 1927 1,641,881 De Lain Sept. 6, 1927 1,674,823 Grimths June 26, 1928 1,917,628 Altorfer July 11, 1933 2,047,177 Davis July 14 1936 2,157,112 Bonner May 9, 1939 2,202,158 Lidseen May 28 1940 2,207,926 Lang July 16, 1940 2,230,059 Hurley, Jr., et al. Jan. 28 1941 2,276,670 Reifenberg Mar. 17, 1942 

